Apparatus for interlocking and uniting the hooked edges of blanks to form can bodies



Oct. 36, 1928.

J. A. GRAY v APPARATUS FOR INTERLOCKING AND UNI'L'ING THE HOOKED EDGES OF BLANKS TO FORM CAN BODIES Original Filed Nov. 12-, 1924 s sheets-sneer 1 vmqn'nm'rus FOR INTERLOCKING AND UNITING THE HOOKED J. A. GRAY EDGES OF BLANKS TO FORM CAN BODIES 3 Sheet s-Sheet '3 Original Filed Nov. 12, 1924 J. A. GRAY APPARATUS FOR INTERLOCKING AND UNITING THE HOOKED EDGES OF BLANKS' TOFORM CAN BODIES Original Filed Nov. 12,1924 3 Shogts -Shiat 3 .ul'llll lllL Patented Oct. 30, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. CRAY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALHORNIA, ASSIGNOR '10 AMERICAN CAN COM- ]?ANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA,

A CORPORATION 01 NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR INTERLOCKING AND UNITING THE HOOKED EDGES OI BLANKS TO FORM CAN BODIES.

Application filed November 12, 1924, Serial F0. 749,487.

The present invention relates to the class of can body forming apparatus.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine for automatically assembling a can body from two pro-formed blanks, by inter-locking the meeting edges of said blanks in the form of mechanically rigid seams which can be subsequently soldered or otherwise treated to make a permanent and tight can body. The use of a machine embodying my present invention results in a great saving of both time and labor over the usual method of first assembling the blanks by hand and then uniting their interfitting edges in a bumping press. Its use also results in a more uniform product, the percentage of imperfect seams in machine assembled can bodies being much less than in those initially assembled by hand.

A further object of the invention is to provide a continuously operating machine requiring no further attention than the feeding of the blanks and the removal of the formed can bodies. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification wherein a preferred embodiment of the said invention is fully described. It is to be understood, however, that the form and construction of the machine herein described and illustrated may be varied, within the limits of the claims hereto appended, without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in said claims.

With this in view my invention will now be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my complete machine.

Fig. 2 is a part sectional front end elevation of the same, as viewed from the right of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view, enlarged, of the feed hopper, the upper portion of the horn, the lateral guides, and the blank-advancing feed slides.

Fig. 4 is a part sectional side elevation, enlarged, of the feed hopper, the horn, the bumping members, and one of the lateral guides.

Renewed March 26, 1928.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the feed. hopper, taken in the direction of the arrows on the lines 55 of Fi 1, 3 and 4.

Fig. 6 is a detailed plain view of a portion of the feed slides.

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail of the clamping means, taken in the direction of the arrows on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 8, 9 and are broken transverse sectional details, enlarged, taken in the direction of the arrows on the respective'lines 8-8, 9-9, and 10-10 of Figs. 1, 3 and 4, and showing the successive steps in the formation of the seams or joints between the edges of the blanks.

Fig. 11 is a sectional detail of one of the bumping members taken in the direction of the arrows on the line 11-11 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 12 is a sectional detail, enlarged, of one of the stop guides, taken in the direction of the arrows on the line 12-12 of Fig. 2.

The machine herein illustrated and described is designed for the formation'of can bodies of square cross section, such for example, as those used in the manufacture of the familiar five-gallon cans. However, by obvious changes in the size and relative positions of its several parts, the machine may. be used with equal success for forming can bodies of other shapes or sizes.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 13 designates a base, from the rear end of which rises an upright frame structure 14, Fig. 1, supporting a hopper 15 adapted for receiving the can body blanks. Said blanks, as

shown at 16 in Fig. 5, are of the usual form employed in the manufacture of can bodies of the type described, each blank being bent along its center line to form two sides of the can body, and the side edges of the two blanks being oppositely flanged, as shown at 17, to' form hooks ca able of interengagement. The bottom 0 the hopper 15 is V- shaped, as shown, and it is provided with a central vertical partition 18', the two blanks 16 being placed on opposite sides of said partition in the positions illustrated.

The partition 18 is extended forwardly in the form of a horn 19, Fi s.- 1, 2, 3, and 4, provided with upper and Fewer enlarged heads or faces 19'. Said horn is provided with lateral bosses 20, Figs. 2, 3 and 4, in whichare mounted guide rails 21 adapted to guide theradvancmg blanks by engagement with their interior central an les, as shown in Fig. 5. Immediately outside the guide rails 21 are reciprocating feed slides 22, extending the entire length of the machine, and provided with spaced inwardly projecting spring actuated dogs 23, as shown in Fig. 6. The length of the stroke of said feed slides and the spacing of said dogs are so proportioned that each dog, or more properly each pair of oppositely disposed dogs, engage the rear ends of a pair of blanks and move the same forwardl at each forward movement of said fee slides. Thus there are a series of pairs of blanks in the machine at all times, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the entire series being moved forwardly, at each forward stroke of the feed slides 22, by a distance slightly greaterthan the length of one blank. The guide rails 21 are provided with grooves 24, Figs. 3, 4, and 5, in which the dogs 23 operate to enable them to engage'the rear ends of the blanks 16.

The feed slides 22 are mounted in suitable guides 25, Figs. 2 and 5, at the ends of the machine, and are vreciprocated bv levers 26, Figs. 1 and 2, secured to a shaft 27 and connected with said slides by links 28. The shaft 27 is-oscillated by a lever 29 which is connected by a rod 30 with a crank31 secured upon a continuously rotating shaft 32 journaled in an upright frame or yoke 33 at the forward end of the machine.

. The hopper 15 is provided, at its forward end, with inclined upper guide plates 34,

Figs. 1, 4 and 5, which initially guide the blanks onto the born 19 and the lateral guide rails 21.v Said horn, immediately forward of the hopper 15, has its heads 19' formed as shown in cross section in Fig. 8, with under-cut depressed portions 35 and raised portions 36. Correspondingly shaped fixed guide plates 37 and 38 are ositioned in close spaced relation tosaid orn portions or surfaces 35 and 36, so that the blanks 16, in passing between the horn and said guide plates 37 and 38, are brought into position to enable their hooked or flanged edges 17 to engage each other, such engagement being brought about b the gradual flattening out of the horn sur aces as shown in Fig. 3, the guide plates 37 and 38 being also brought together to conform to the changing contour of the horn.

lVhen the mutually engaged blanks are advanced through another step of their forward movement, they pass between the horn and spring actuated pressing members 39, Figs. 1 an 9, which initially or parand 9. Said members are carried upon pins 41 which are vertically movable in fixed supports 42, and s rings 43 press them against the horn sur aces 40. The rear ends of said members are inclined upwardly, as shown at 44 in Fig. 1, to permit the blanks. to enter between them and said horn surfaces.

The next succeeding movement of" the blanks 16 brings them to their endmost or last position at the forward end of the horn, and during their period of rest in this posi tion the partially clinched inter-engaged flanges 17 are firmly and finally clinched by a bumping process which will now be described. The frame yoke 33 carries an upper horizontal shaft 45, Fi s. 1 and 2, spaced above and parallel to tie shaft 32. Both said shafts are provided with gears 46, which are driven by a common pinion 47 connected with a belt pulley 48. Said shafts are also provided with cranks or eccentrics 49, Figs. 1, 2, and 11, journaled in. trunnion blocks 50 operating in rectangular sockets in the shanks 51 of the bumping hammers, said shanks being mounted for vertical reciprocating move-. ment in fixed guides 52. The heads 53 of said bumping hammers are elongated in the direction of the len h of the horn, and are formed as shown 111 Fig. 10 to cooperate with said horn to finally clinch and flatten the seam formed by the inter-engaged flanges 17 of the blanks 16. The heads 19 of the horn are provided at this point with longitudinal grooves 54, Figs. 3 and 10. adapted to receive said seam. The blanks 16 are moved to their fixed position, of course, while the bumping hammers 53 are separated from the horn heads 19', and then, during the period of rest of said blanks, said hammers are forced against said horn with the necessary pressure to finally clinch and flatten the seam. Said hammers then separate again, and the next forward movement of the feed slides 22 pushesthe assembled can body out of the machine.

suitably The two blanks 16 are properly aligned I the conclusion of the bumpin movement of the stops 55, and their inward movement is limited by contact with the horn 19. Thus, upon the-separation of the hammers 53, thestops '55 are moved against their limiting screws 59, as shown in Figs. 2 and 11, in which position the spaces between said stops and thehorn surfaces are sufficient to permit the finally clinched and flattened flanges 17 of the' united blanks 16 to pass through, but said spaces are not suflicient to permit the passage of the partially clinched flanges of the next succeeding pair of blanks. Thus the partially united blanks are mutually aligned, endwise, upon being moved into position between the hammers 53, by the abutment of the ends of their flanges 17 against the stops 55.

After the partially united blanks have been moved into position between the bumping hammers 53, they are clamped, to hold them securely in such position during the bumping operation. For this purpose'there are provided pivotally mounted gripping members or jaws 61, Figs. 1 and 7, adapted .to clamp the blanks, at their rear ends,

against the horn 19. Said jaws are operated by oscillating rods 62 which carry arms 63 at their outer ends, and said arms are provided with rollers 64; adapted to follow cams 65 formed upon the inner flanges of the gears 16. Springs 66 return said jaws to their normal or free positions. The earns 65 are so positioned angularly with respect to the bumping cranks 49 that the jaws 61 are caused to clamp the rear ends of the blanks as soon as the feed bars 22 come to rest, and to release said blanks at or before or operation. The swinging movement of said jaws 61 in clamping the blanks causes said blanks to be shoved forwardly firmly against the stops 55 to insure their mutual endwise alignment.

In order to insure that the partially clinched flanges 17 of the blanks 16 will be fully seated within each other prior to tnefinal clinching or bumping process, the lateral guide rails 21 are slightly enlarged, as shown at 67 inFig. 3, at their forward end regions. This causes the blanks, when moved to their final position between the bumping hammers, to be slightly spread apart, thereby placing the joints formed by the inter-engaging hooked flanges under strain to insure that said flanges will be fully and firmly seated within each other.

The machine herein set. forth is or may be used as one of the instrumentalities for the performance'of my method of making angular containers, set forth in my application Serial No. 142,832, filed October 20, 1926, in which my said method is claimed.

I claim:

1. A machine for the described purpose comprising means for receiving a pair of separate blanks having hooked flanges capable of mutual inter-engagement, a horn having means for causing the inter-engagement of said flanges, means for feeding the sheets along the horn so as to be inter-em gaged by their hooked flanges, and means for clinching the inter-engaged flanges to unite the two blanks.

25A machine for the described purpose comprising a holder for receiving a pairvof separate blanks having anges capable of mutual inter-engagement, a horn having means for causing the inter-engagement of said flanges as the ,sheets are fed along the horn, means for clinchin the inter-engaged flanges to unite the two lanks, and means for moving said blanks from the holder to the inter-engaging means and thence to the clinching means.

' 3. A machine for the described purpose comprising means for receiving a pair of separate blanks having flanges capable of mutual inter-enga ement, said receiving means having con ning and guiding devices for engaging said blanks when bent into angular form, and means operating while the blanks are moving for causing the inter-engagement of said flanges to ,unite said blanks, and means for s0 moving the blanks. 1 1

1. A machine for the described purpose comprising-means for receiving a pair] of separate blanks having flanges capable. of j vanced for causing the inter-engagement of said flanges durin the advancing movement of the blanks, an inter-engaged flanges to unite said blanks.

6. A' machine for the described purpose comprising means for receiving and separately holding a pair of separate blanks having flanges ca able of mutual inter-engagement, means or advancing said blanks in the direction of the length of said flanges,

and means for simultaneously moving said blanks transversely inwardly and then outwardl to effect the inter-engagement -'of said anges.

7. A machine for the described purpose comprising means for receiving a pair of separate blanks having flanges capable of mutual inter-engagement, means for admeans for clinchin the oppositel vancing said blanks in the direction of the len h of said flanges, and guidemembers against which the blanks are forced edge- Wise and adapted to engage and deflect said flanges during the advancin movement of said blanks to effect the 1nter-en-' gagement of said flan es.

8. A machine for the described purpose comprising a holder for receiving and separately holding a pair 'of separate blanks having flanges capable of mutual inter-engagement, said receiving means having confinin and guiding devices for engaging said Wltll1k5 when bent into angular form, means for clinching said flanges together to unite the.blanks, and means for moving said blanks from said holder to said clinching means. I

9. A machine for the described purpose comprising a holderior receiving within it a pair of separate angle blanks having flanges capable of mutual inter-engagement, a horn extending from said holder, a bumping member for clinching said flanges together to unite the blanks, and means for moving said blanks from said holder and along the horn and into the sphere of action of said bumping member.

10. A machine for the described purpose comprising a holder for receiving a pair of separate blanks having flanges capable of mutual inter-engagme'nt, said holder engaging the outer sides of the blanks and having means for holding said blanks separated, reciprocating bumping members for clinc ing said flanges together to unite the blanks, and means for moving said blanks from said holder into the sphere of action of said bum ing n1embers.

11. A machine or the described purpose comprisin a holder for receiving a pair of separate lanks having flanges capable of mutual inter-engagement, said ho der engaging the outer sides of the blanks and having means for holding said blanks separated, means for clinching said flanges together to unite the blanks, and means for feeding said blanks from said holder to said clinching means and for discharging the united blanks therefrom.

12. A machine for the described purpose comprising a holder for receiving a pair of separate blanks having flanges capable of mutual inter-engagement, said holder engag ing the outer sides of said blanks and having means for holding said blanks separated, a horn extendin from said holder and having means for clinching said flanges-together to unite the blanks, and a reciprocating member for moving said blanks from said holder to said clinching means.

13. A machine for the described purpose comprising a holder for receiving a pair of separate blanks having flan es capable of mutual inter-engagement, sai holder engaginter-engaged flanges, and means for finally,

clinching said flanges together to unite said blanks.

15. A machine for the described purpose comprising a holder for receiving a pair of blanks having flanges capable of mutual inter-engagement, a horn extending from said holder and having fixed means for effecting the inter-engagement of flanges, means for partially clinching the inter-engaged flanges, and a bumping member for-finally clinching said flanges together to unite said blanks.

16. A machine for the described purpose comprising a holder for receiving a pair of blanks having flanges capable of mutual inter-engagement, a horn extending from said holder and having fixed means for elfecting the inter-engagement of said said

flanges, means for partially clinching the inter-engaged flanges, means for finally clinching said flanges together to unite the blanks, and means for movin the respective spheresof action of said interengaging and clinching means.

17 A machine for the described purpose comprising a holder for receiving a pair of blanks having flanges capable of mutual inter-engagement, means for eflecting the inter-engagment of said-flanges, means for partiall clinching the inter-engaged flanges, means or finally clinching said flanges together to unite the blanks, and means for advancing said blanks, by a series of successive step movements, from said holder through the respective spheres of action of said inter-engaging and clinching means.

18. A machine for the described purpose comprising a holder for receiving a pair of separate blanks having flanges capable of mutual inter-'e'ngagment, means for advancing said blanks from said holder by a series of successive step movements alternating With periods of rest, means for effecting the inter-engagement of said flanges during one of said movements, means for partially clinching the inter-engaged flanges during a succeeding movement, and means for finally clinching said flanges together during a succeeding period of rest.

ion

said blanks .from said holder and successively through anemone blanks into a can'body.

20. A machine for the described purpose comprising means for receiving and advancing a pair of separate blanks having flanges capable of mutual inter-engagement, fixed means for deflectin and eflecting the interengagement of sai flanges during the advancing movement of said blanks, means for advancing said blanks against and along said deflecting means, and means for clinching the inter-engaged flanges together to unite said blanks.

21. A machine for the described purpose comprising means for receivin and advancing a pair of separate blanks aving flanges capable of mutual inter-engagement, means for eflecting the inter-engagement of said flanges during the advancing movement of. said blanks, means for partially clinching the inter-engaged flanges during said advancing movement, and separate means for finally clinching said flanges together to unite said blanks.

22. A machine for the described purpose comprising means for imparting forward movement, followed by a period of rest, to a pair of separate blanks having flanges capable of mutual inter-enga ement, fixed means for deflecting and eflecting the inter engagement of said flanges during said movement, and means for clinching the 1nter-engaged flanges together, to unite said blanks, during said period of rest.

23. A machine for the described urpose comprising means for imparting orward movement, followed b a' period of rest, to a pair of separate b anks having flanges capable of mutual inter-engagement, means for effecting the inter-engagement of said flanges during said movement, means for partially clinching the inter-engaged flanges during said forward movement, and means for finally clinching said flanges together, to unite said blanks, during said period of rest.

9A. In a machine for uniting the interfltting flanges of can body blanks, means for initially and partially clinching the interfitting flanges, and separate means for finally clinching the partially clinched an "es.

25 In a machine for uniting the interfitting flanges of can body blanks, a spring actuated pressing member for initially and partially clinching the inter-fitting flanges,

and se arate means for finally clinching the partia y clinched flanges.

26. In a machine for unitin the mterfitting flanges ofcan body blan s, a spring actuated pressing member for initially and partially clinching the inter-fitting flanges, and a reciprocating bumping member for finally clinching the partially clinchedflanges.

27. In a machine for uniting the interfitting flanges of can body blanks, means for imparting forward movement, followed by a period of rest, to the blanks, means for partially clinching the inter-fitting flanges during said forward movement, and means for finally clinching the partially clinched I flanges during said period of rest- 28. In a machine for uniting complementary flanges of can body blanks, means for effecting the inter-engagement of the complementary flanges, means for initially and partially clinching the inter-enga ed flanges, and separate means for finally clinching the partially clinched flanges.

29. In a machine for uniting complemen tary flanges of can body blanks, means for imparting forward movement, followed by a period of rest, to the blank, means for effecting the inter-enga ement and the partial clinching of the cempIeinentary flanges during said forward movement, and means for' finally clinching the partially clinched flanges during said period of rest.

30. In a machine for uniting complementary flanges of can body blanks, means for effecting the inter-enga ement of the complementary flanges, an a spring actuated member for partially clinching the interengaged flanges.

31. In a machine for unitin the interfitting flanges of c'an body blan s, a spring actuated member for partially clinching the inter-fitting flanges, and means for moving said flanges through the sphere of action of said member.

32. In a machine for uniting the 'interfitting flanges of can body blanks, a pair of pressing members, resilient means for bold ing said members together, and means for moving the inter-fitting flanges between said members to partially clinch the same.

33. In a machine for uniting complementary flanges of can body blanks, a horn, guide members associated with said horn or effecting the inter-engagement of said flanges, a pressing member associated with said horn for partially clinching the interinter-fitting relation, and means for clinching together the flanges of the clamped blanks.

35. In a machine for uniting the interfitting flan es of can body blanks, means for aligmn tie inter-fittin flanges endwise, means or clamping the kinks to hold said flanges in inter-fittlng aligned relation, and means for clinchng together the flanges of the clamped blanks.

36. In a machine for uniting the interfitting flanges of can body blanks, a stop member, means for moving the ends of the inter-fitting flanges against said stop memfitting flanges of can body. blanks, a stop member, a gripping member for moving the ends of the blanks against said stop meniher to align said flanges endwise and for clamping said flanges in all the flanges of the clamped blanks.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JAMES A. GRAY.

ed inter-fitting relation, and means for clinching together 

